This Massachusetts primary day is unlike any other, more than 700,000 people have already voted
Massachusetts candidates for heated U.S. Senate and House races were busy this weekend making their final campaign push ahead of Tuesday’s primary election as cities and towns prepped for in-person voting.
It’s a Bay State primary unlike any other as hundreds of thousands across the state have already voted early and by mail amid the coronavirus pandemic.
More than 700,000 ballots have been received ahead of Tuesday — with about 600,000 of them mail-in ballots, according to Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin who’s urging people to drop off their ballots.
“We’re strongly suggesting to people at this point … that they not rely upon the mail,” Galvin said Sunday on WCVB. “We have encouraged local clerks to make sure they have drop boxes available. In addition to that, they can bring the ballot to the clerk’s office.”
Fewer people have voted by mail in Massachusetts cities compared to suburban communities.
The city of Boston on Sunday issued primary reminders, including that voters who requested vote-by-mail ballots or absentee ballots must have their signed ballot returned to the Boston Election Department by 8 p.m. on Tuesday.
Mayor Martin Walsh tweeted, “If you haven’t yet mailed in your mail-in ballot, please consider: Dropping it at the City Hall drop box Monday by 5 p.m. or Tuesday by 8:00 p.m.; Voting in person on #ElectionDay. No matter how you plan to vote, make sure your voice is heard.”
All Boston poll workers will receive face shields, face masks, gloves, disinfectant wipes, disinfectant spray and hand sanitizer.
Cleaning will take place at each site every two to three hours. Voters waiting in line will be instructed to stand 6 feet away from others and wear a face covering.
Galvin assured voters that the polls will be safe for in-person voting.
“My office has spent a great amount of money to protect the safety of the polls,” he said.
The chief turnout drivers are the Democratic U.S. Senate race, 4th Congressional race and 1st Congressional race, Galvin said.
U.S. Sen. Ed Markey has been up in the polls recently against U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III. Markey led Kennedy in four polls released in the past week, and was up by double digits in three of them.
But with the rapid and massive expansion of vote by mail due to the pandemic, plus early voting for the first time in the state primaries, analysts say they’re far from certain how the race will turn out.
“You can’t prognosticate well this year, because we really don’t know who voted when in this election, who voted in the first or second week in August, who was influenced by a strong Markey ad or a strong appearance by Kennedy,” said veteran Springfield-based Democratic strategist Tony Cignoli said.
The Democratic primary in the 4th Congressional race to replace Kennedy has a packed field with Jake Auchincloss, Jesse Mermell, Becky Grossman, Ihssane Leckey, Alan Khazei, Natalia Linos and Ben Sigel.
The Democratic primary for the 1st Congressional race in Western Massachusetts is a battle between longtime incumbent U.S. Rep. Richard Neal and Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse.
Local election officials have four days to certify results for a primary and submit them to the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Office.
A spokeswoman for the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Office said in a statement, “Counting could go later into the night, if there is a large influx of mail-in ballots submitted on Tuesday, as those ballots need to be checked in at the local election office and then sent to the polls to be counted.”
from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/34MGWOP
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